5 Dazzling Days in Krakow: From Food to Sites

Auschwitz-Birkenau: Auschwitz was a concentration camp for Jewish people and prisoners of war during WWII. It is infamous as a death camp for its prisoners. This day was very heavy, and I suggest you not plan to do any other activities after this tour. The museum is very well-done, and the tour guides are very knowledgeable regarding this sensitive history. Here is some important information about your visit to Auschwitz-Birkenau: Get your tickets early. I booked mine about three months in advance. There are many options through Viator and Get Your Guide. You will walk about three miles between the two camps during the tour, and I suggest you order lunch for your tour ahead of time (we used Hello Krakow) if you want something substantial to eat. There is a small café at the museum, but the options are limited. Also, your ticketed time is not your pick-up time. Most tours will pick you up from your selected location between 5:30 am and 6 am and expect to return to Krakow between 1 pm and 2 pm.

Schindler Museum: This is a beautiful museum in Krakow, but I feel the name of the museum is deceiving. This museum does a beautiful job of focusing on the Nazi occupation of Poland and life in the Jewish ghetto under Nazi rule, but there is limited information on Oskar Schindler. If you were planning to visit to learn more about the history of how Schindler helped the Jewish people, just understand that it is not the focus of the museum. It is still worth a visit, especially if you have a strong interest in WWII history in Poland (which I very much do!) Please book your tickets one month or two in advance, and be aware that if you book a “front of the line ticket,” which I suggest you do, the line can be very long.

Apteka pod Orlem (Eagle Pharmacy): I loved this museum. It was suggested a little last-minute by a friend, and I am glad we paid a visit. This pharmacy was the only pharmacy allowed to remain open in the Jewish ghetto during WWII. It was operated by a Polish (non-Jewish) pharmacist named Tadeusz Pankiewicz. He provided food, safety, and medicine to the Jewish people during the way, and he received a ‘Righteous Among the Nations’ award in 1964. These stories about his bravery and the lives his pharmacy saved are truly heroic. There is also a square outside the pharmacy with an installation of empty chairs, representing the loss of life in the Jewish ghetto.

Wieliczka Salt Mine: This is one of the oldest-running salt mines in the world, and it only ceased operations in 1996. This salt mine is very impressive. It is over 400 feet underground. It includes over 287 km of tunnels, four chapels, and underground lakes. The tour is about two hours and explains the history of the salt mine and shows you some of these impressive structures built by the miners. You will walk about three miles during the tour as well, and take a long staircase down to the first level (about 60 meters) into the mine. Don’t worry! There is an elevator for the ride up!

Walkative walking tour: This company does free walking tours in Krakow, and they were very fun and informative! I wouldn’t have learned so many things about the city and its history without taking the tour. Ex – There is a legend that Wawel Castle in Krakow was guarded by a fire-breathing dragon, so there is a statue of a dragon under the castle that breathes fire every 10 minutes. The company does tours of the Jewish Quarter, Old Town Krakow, a Communist tour, and others. Tours are available in many languages and multiple times a day.

Krakow night river cruise: Krakow is beautiful at night, and taking a cruise down the river was a nice way to end an evening! You can walk down to the pier along the river near Wawel Castle and see the different options of tours available! Some boats have dinner, drinks, music, and many other themes! I booked a tour through Get Your Guide. The tour lasted one hour, and I saw the beautiful city of Krakow (including Wawel Castle) lit up at night, along with learning some information about the city and its history.

Finca Coffee: Very cute coffee shop in Kazimierz. I was here during the fall, and I had a yummy pumpkin-spiced latte, along with a beautiful, warm serving of shakshuka. The staff was friendly, and there were many other delicious options on the menu (the lemon pancakes looked very delicious)!

Café Cytat: A great brunch spot to sit outside in Kazimierz for brunch. I had a delicious latte here along with an order of pancakes. The pancakes were light, fluffy, and delicious, and included fresh berries. They had other great options, such as omelets and eggs.

Wino Metal: I stumbled upon this adorable wine bar, which appeared to be a local hangout while walking home one evening. It is very dark and cozy with candle-lit tables. This was the perfect place to wrap up the evening with a glass of wine (I had the Chianti, my friend had Tempranillo) and a charcuterie board. The food was delicious and they had an extensive wine list.

Judah Food Hall: Right in the middle of Kazimierz is Judah Food Hall, which has everything you could ever want for a quick snack. There are many different cruises represented at the food hall. From Polish zapiekanka (half a baguette with different toppings) to kebabs, pierogis, and baked potatoes, you can find something to satisfy your craving for really cheap.

Kogel Mogel: Kogel Mogel is a wonderful restaurant in Old Krakow that was suggested to me by a Polish friend, so I was excited to eat dinner here! This was my favorite meal in Krakow. Kogel Mogel serves elevated Polish food in an elegant setting. We had pierogis, pork chops, beets, and apple pie. The service was impeccable, and they had a great wine selection, including great suggestions for Polish wines (we had a pinot noir that paired well with our meal). “Kogel Mogel” is a traditional Polish dessert made with egg, and I would suggest trying the restaurant’s namesake to end your meal.

Hevre: This bar is in an old synagogue! This was a fun spot to stop in and have a drink or a snack. My friend and I enjoyed espresso martinis in this former house of prayer. The walls are covered in graffiti, showing us that Hevre has a story to tell. During the day, you will see people working and enjoying lunch, and at night, there are people dancing and drinking beer. I would suggest you stop and enjoy this interesting piece of history!

Kuchina u Dorthy: Kuchina was suggested to us by our Walkative tour guide! He said it was a spot that is visited by locals, so we had to try it out. We started with a bottle of Sauvignon Blanc and the cold beet soup, which was something I had never tried, and it was delicious. We shared pierogis (again!), beef stroganoff, and apple pie. Our meal was filling and flavorful! They close at 9, so this is not the place for a late-night snack.

Knitted coffee stand: This was an adorable coffee stand that was great for grabbing a coffee and a cookie on the go. They have lattes, matcha, cappuccinos, and other espresso drinks. My coffee was perfectly made and exactly what I needed.

Noah: An Israeli restaurant that has been recognized by Michelin, and it definitely deserves it. Noah serves fresh, creative, and delightful dishes that leave me wanting more. This is a food-sharing restaurant, so you get to choose from many different small plates. I started with a fresh herbed salad, challah bread, and a gorgeous feta dip. I also enjoyed saffron chicken and saddle lamb with grilled cucumbers. I wish I could have eaten everything on the menu. Other dishes that looked amazing were the hummus and other beautiful fresh vegetable options. I would make visiting Noah a priority, especially if you are looking for a fresh, bright meal in between traditional Polish meals.

Caramel Altier: If you are crazy about coffee or tea, and want a sweet treat (I did!), this is a cute place to stop in. This is also one of the only places I found herbal tea in Krakow, so I enjoyed a cup of green tea with my brownie. They have beautiful homemade cakes like pumpkin cheesecake, pistachio cake, and tiramisu.